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Driver who hit and killed cyclist said victim "seemed the same colour as the shadows"Broken bike (CC licensed image by garryknight, www.flickr.com)

Driver who hit and killed cyclist said victim "seemed the same colour as the shadows"

Victim died as a result of traumatic head injury
by Alex Bowden
Fri, Jul 22, 2016 17:00
38

The driver involved in a fatal collision with a cyclist near Grantham in Lincolnshire told police that the victim “seemed the same colour as the shadows.” 49-year-old Robert Dearing died in hospital after being hit by a Kia Rio being driven by Patricia Crozier on July 3, 2015.

The Lincolnshire Echo reports that the collision took place on Sand Lane near a railway bridge with both parties travelling east in the direction of Branston.

In an interview with police read out at the inquest at Lincoln Cathedral Centre, Crozier said: "I don't know where he came from. I saw the cyclist when he was at the side of me – I saw him go up a bit and then fall. He seemed to be the same colour as the shadows."

The inquest heard that Crozier’s car hit the back of Dearing’s bike, throwing him off. A post mortem report found that he died as a result of a traumatic head injury.

Valerie Ryall was driving along the road at the time of the crash. She said: "The woman walked towards me and I asked if she was ok? She replied, 'I knocked him off his bike.’"

Eyewitnesses said Mr Dearing was wearing a long dark jacket at the time of the collision. One motorist referred to the road as "dangerous".

Coroner Paul Smith concluded that Dearing died as a result of a road traffic collision. He cited the darkness of the road, caused by overhanging trees, and Dearing's clothing as being possible factors contributing to the collision.

Grantham
Patricia Crozier
Robert Dearing
cyclist fatality
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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38 comments

Avatar
Gashead | 8 years ago
16 likes

If you can't see a dark cyclist you can't see a sinkhole or a fallen tree. If you can't see slow down until you can, otherwise it can all end in tears.

Avatar
oldstrath | 8 years ago
11 likes

But generally they can see black cars? More like " it was only a bike, I knew I wouldn't get hurt." We  can only hope the driver's conscience, on the strong assumption she has one, might stop her driving. We might also hope coroners stop believing blatant porkies, but this seems even less likely.

Avatar
joules1975 replied to oldstrath | 8 years ago
8 likes

Any of you guys commenting above actually there? Do you know the bit of road? Do you know what the cyclist was wearing? Did you see the incident. No, thought not.

I've no idea what the cyclist was wearing, or what the road conditions were, or whether the driver was simply not paying attention, but given the number of fellow cyclists I've seen dressed all in black, and blending in a little too well on sections of road that have heavy tree cover, I'm sorry but the drivers version of events may be entirely accurate.

So, 1. Driver should be paying attention, and 2. we should make sure we are visible.

And before anyone jumps on that last one, I'm not saying we should all go round in hi-viz, but at the very least pick a jersey/coat that's a reasonably bright/stand out colour. Or ride with lights even in the day.

Personally I tend to ride with bold red jacket/jersey and white or bright yellow helmet, and if it's overcast I turn my lights on as well.

oldstrath wrote:

But generally they can see black cars? 

Actually, black cars can have the same problem as cyclists wearing all black. I've nearly driven into a couple of very dark coloured cars because I couldn't see them on an overcast day on a narrow unlit tree lined road (they should have had their lights on, but didn't).

When doing my motorbike training I was shown various videos demonstating how easy it is not to see things, or for others not to see you.

Avatar
J90 replied to joules1975 | 8 years ago
8 likes
joules1975 wrote:

Any of you guys commenting above actually there? Do you know the bit of road? Do you know what the cyclist was wearing? Did you see the incident. No, thought not.

I've no idea what the cyclist was wearing, or what the road conditions were, or whether the driver was simply not paying attention, but given the number of fellow cyclists I've seen dressed all in black, and blending in a little too well on sections of road that have heavy tree cover, I'm sorry but the drivers version of events may be entirely accurate.

So, 1. Driver should be paying attention, and 2. we should make sure we are visible.

And before anyone jumps on that last one, I'm not saying we should all go round in hi-viz, but at the very least pick a jersey/coat that's a reasonably bright/stand out colour. Or ride with lights even in the day.

Personally I tend to ride with bold red jacket/jersey and white or bright yellow helmet, and if it's overcast I turn my lights on as well.

oldstrath wrote:

But generally they can see black cars? 

Actually, black cars can have the same problem as cyclists wearing all black. I've nearly driven into a couple of very dark coloured cars because I couldn't see them on an overcast day on a narrow unlit tree lined road (they should have had their lights on, but didn't).

When doing my motorbike training I was shown various videos demonstating how easy it is not to see things, or for others not to see you.

....or like a lot of British people, she was a shit driver.

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet | 8 years ago
8 likes

The old 'dangerous road' trick. No such thing, unless it literally is full of holes or unsigned bends. 

 

 "I don't know where he came from. I saw the cyclist when he was at the side of me – I saw him go up a bit and then fall. He seemed to be the same colour as the shadows."

This bit seems like one of those interviews out of Brass Eye or The Day Today. Sadly it's not as funny given the reality. 

Avatar
PennineRider | 8 years ago
15 likes

Driver who hit and killed cyclist "seemed the same intelligence as a potato"

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
6 likes

Them long, dark jackets at it again.

 

Lock up yer young.

 

 

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 8 years ago
12 likes

So Clothing attracts collisions.?

The driver entered into dark area of road and hit cyclist. She and she alone killed him

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